Beating someone with one arm tied behind your back is one thing but Michael Constantino has just become the first professional boxer to win with one arm full-stop! The single fisted boxer, believed to be he first in the sport, scored a second round TKO of Nathan Ortiz in the cruiserweight bout.
Constantino was born with a right arm that is intact down to the wrist but, after that, his ‘fist’ tapers to a nub which he gloves up for defensive purposes. Constantino hoped the victory would be an inspiration to others. “I just wanted to show people that in life, if you ever feel like you’re not good enough or you feel down that anything is possible,” the 33-year-old said. “I wanted to show people that if you work hard and believe in yourself that you can achieve what you set out to do. I felt good out there. If this is how these fights are going to be, why wouldn’t I want to continue my career?”
Where Constantino’s story is one of triumph over adversity, Ortiz couldn’t help but be a bit of a dick about the whole thing. If you get beaten by a one-armed boxer, maybe just take it on the chin (ribs, nose, temple, and wherever else he clocked you). But not Ortiz who blamed his limited preparation and fitness for the defeat. “Give me two months to train and I’ll knock him out in the first round,” Ortiz said, before conceding the one-handed fighter “was better than I thought.” Righto Ortiz, back to the boxing wilderness for you.
For footage of Constantino’s amateur fights click here.
Via NYDailyNews.
